Gavin White (46) was enjoying a family holiday in Greece in July 2023 when on the beach he suddenly had a seizure and collapsed. He had already suffered from headaches, states of confusion, changes in vision and, above all, unquenchable thirst, which he felt especially at night. After returning to Britain, he underwent examinations at the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him glioblastoma – an extremely aggressive and fast-growing type of tumor. The prognosis was overwhelming, he had 6 to 14 months to live, he writes.
He was subsequently transferred to a hospital in Cambridge, where he underwent an awake craniotomy, conscious brain surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Currently, his condition is stabilized. Despite the fact that he lives in constant uncertainty, he maintains a positive approach to life. He says that although he was given the news of the diagnosis very harshly, he never gives up and does everything he can to stay active. It is training for marathons that helps him cope with the demanding treatment and keep himself in mental and physical condition.
Since then, Gavin has been dedicated to raising funds for research into a cure for cancer. Together with his colleagues, he has so far raised more than 100,000 pounds (about 120,000 euros) for the organization Brain Tumor Research. Last weekend, he successfully completed the prestigious London Marathon, which he considers the pinnacle of his running efforts. He crossed the finish line in 45,155th place with a time of 5 hours, 20 minutes and 23 seconds. He had previously run the Milton Keynes marathon in May 2025, taking a group of friends with him to train and support him in his fight.
He perceives his life in three-month cycles, because he knows that there is a high probability of the disease returning. Nevertheless, he is optimistic about the progress in science and emphasizes that while the news about brain tumors was full of hopelessness, today things are moving forward.
According to him, the key to finding a cure is time and money, just like it was with other types of cancer. Brain Tumor Research’s Carol Robertson described Gavin’s determination as inspiring and highlighted his contribution to raising awareness of the disease, which affects around 3,200 people in the UK each year.
